Forest Edge Learning Federation
PSHE
The mental health of our children must be seen as every bit as important as their physical health.
- Kate Middleton
Our Vision
At Forest Edge Learning Federation, each child will have a strong sense of self-worth, demonstrating a positive attitude about who they are. They will identify and articulate their feelings and emotions and be responsible members of the communities they belong to, forming healthy relationships.
Subject Leader and Mental Health Lead: Mrs Jenny Mason
Intent
Kate Middleton famously said, "The mental health of our children must be seen as every bit as important as their physical health." Our aim is that all pupils are equipped with the tools to develop self-care, both mentally and physically. At Forest Edge, our PSHE aims to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding to lead confident, healthy and independent lives.
Implementation
At Forest Edge, we have tailored the PSHE Associations' Programme of Study to suit our pupils, school and community, giving careful consideration to our school ethos, aims and our pupils' needs. We follow the PSHE Associations' three core themes: Health and Wellbeing; Relationships; Living in the Wider World. Each year group covers content related to each theme every year, ensuring that a spiral programme is in place: one that revisits themes, gradually extending thinking, expanding knowledge and developing skills.
The content of our PSHE curriculum is delivered weekly alongside our ROOTs curriculum focus.
Impact
Our children will leave us with the specific skills they need to pave the way towards a lifetime of success, fulfilment and happiness in an inclusive society.
Overview of Themes
Relationships, Sex and Health Education
The Department for Education has made changes to relationships and sex education following a nationwide consultation which came into effect from September 2020 and all schools are required to comply with the updated requirements.
The statutory guidance can be found here:
The guidance focusses on healthy relationships and keeping children safe in the modern world. It also covers a wide range of topics relating to physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships.
Learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up will give children and young people the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships and help them take responsibility for their own well-being.
Consequently, from September 2020, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), along with Health Education, will be statutory, and form part of the National Curriculum.
We have reviewed our RSE curriculum and policy so we can be sure our RSE provision is appropriate for our pupils based on their:
- Age
- Physical and emotional maturity
- Religious and cultural backgrounds
- Special educational needs and disabilities
You can find more guidance from the DfE and information about our teaching resources using the links below. A copy of our RSHE Policy can be found in the policies section of this website. You can also find our RSHE charter for church schools (Breamore CE and Hyde CE), as well as some frequently asked questions in the downloads section below.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
At Forest Edge Learning Federation, we take mental health and wellbeing very seriously.
We believe that it is important to educate our whole school community about a variety of mental health difficulties so that we can work together to signpost and support each other.
Our children learn about how to look after their own mental health, and the mental health of others, during their ROOTS lessons. They take part in the 'myHappymind' scheme, which you can find out more about here.
Mental Health Bulletins are shared with parents regularly and can also be accessed in the downloads section below.
It's important that we all take responsibility for the mental health and wellbeing of ourselves and of others.
If you have any concerns about your child's mental health, then please contact their class teacher in the first instance. They may then put you in contact with Mrs Jenny Mason (Mental Health Lead) to discuss this further, if needed.
Here you will find the links to support from Hampshire CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and Young Minds support for parents.
Teaching the Equality Act 2010
At our school there are no outsiders. We are all different and we know that this is something that should be welcomed!
The 'No Outsiders' programme educates children about diversity within our communities and addresses issues such as sexism, ageism, race and different types of families. It forms part of our relationship education and is taught through the Roots curriculum.
It is taught to each year group through the use of age-appropriate books. Through these beautiful pictures books, the children explore the concepts of equality, diversity, acceptance of differences and of the right of someone to have an opinion different to their own.
For a short overview of the ethos behind the programme watch this video.